Automobile curtain



e. E. BISHOP.

AUTOMOBILE-CURTAIN. APPLICATLON FILED JAN. 1a, 1920.

Patented Aug. 8, 1922.

Afro/aver:

GEORGE E. BISHOP, 01E CLEVELAND, OHIO.

AUTOMOBILE CURTAIN.

Application filed January 16, 1920.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE E. BISHOP, acitizen of the United States, resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automobile Curtains, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

My invention relates to side enclosures for vehicles, and particularly to side curtains adapted for automobile use. Particularly, the invention relates to improved means of this character which are supported upon, and can be opened and shut with, the door.

The annexed drawing and the following description forth in detail certain means embodying invention, the disclosed means, however, embodying but two of the various mechanical forms in which the prin ciple of the invention may be applied.

In said annexed drawing:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my new and improved side curtain ot the collapsible type, the respective positions of several elements of a supporting and stretching member, when the curtain is being collapsed, being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 2 represents, upon an enlarged scale, an elevation of the inside of tragmentary portions of said curtain, fragmentary portions of the automobile door on which the curtain is adapted to be supported being shown in section;

Figure represents a side elevation and a vertical section, taken in the plane indicated by the line III-TIT, Figure 1, ot the elements shown in Figure 2;

Figure at represents a collapsing position of the several curtain elements shown in Figure 2;

Figure 5 represents a section of one element, hereinafter fully described, and taken in the plane indicated by the line V Figure 4;

Figure 6 represents a perspective view of the curtain and door, illustrating the action when the door is open; and

Figure '7 is a perspective of a form of my invention designed for use in frames of the rigid type and illustrating the action when the door is opened.

Referring to the annexed drawing, suit- Specification of Letters Patent.

ffiatented A110. 8, 1922. Serial No. 351,826.

upper spaced rigid tension members 1 and 5 disposed above the respective outlooks 2 and 3, and overlapping at their respective inner ends a strengthened fabric section 6 adapted to form a fabric hinge. The axis of this hinge 6 lies, in general, in the pro jected straight line which includes the axes of the door hinges. However, the position of this hinge is determined by various conditions, such as the amountof overhang of the automobile top, etc. i The hinge 6 forms the upper pivot upon which the curtain turns when it is opened and closed with the door, These upper rigid tension members 42 and 5, as well as a lower member 7, are preferably incorporated with the fabric 1, and the same are thus shown in the accompanying drawing. A further element of the frame comprises several relatively pivoted and separable members forming a supporting and stretching element. These members consist of relatively short rod sections 8 and 9 respectively pivoted to the horizontally disposed tension members 4 and and an intermediate rod section 12 separably attached to the upper rod section 8 and formed with a grip portion 13 having a supporting end portion 14;, rectangular in cross section, and adapted to lit the metal socket member 16 positioned in a suitable recess formed in the door 15 upon which the curtain is supported. 7 The rod 12 is integrally secured to a downwardly extended element 17 by means which will be hereinafter described in detail. Said element 1? is secured by a pivot 24' to the section 9, said section 9 being of U-shaped cross section, as shown in Figure 5, the member 17 being positioned within the recess 10 of the U-shaped member 9, and the member 9 being so secured that the base 11 thereof is upon the side shown in Figures Qand 4, whereby the relativepivotal movement of the members 17 and 9 is limited to the direction shown in Figures 4 and 6.

The connection between the section 8 and the supporting rod 12 is that which is plainly shown in Figure 1, the Section 8,

being formed with a recess adapted to receive the upper end of the rod 12, when the curtain is taut, the pivotal connections 0t electrically welded to said supporting rod lateral portion the door heading.

152. This method of connectingthe member 17 and rod 12 forms no part of this invention. but consists briefly in electrically welding by the aid of pressure a connecting element or rivet 18 to the walls of a slot formed in the member 17, and to the contiguous surface of the rod 12.

My curtain includes a valance element shown, described and claimed in previous patent applications, and particularly patented to me in U. S. Letters PatentYNo. 1,244,692. This valance comprises the portion 19 above the heading of the automobile door, separable from the curtain portion, which travels with the door, and forming a bumper for said curtain portion; and a 20 integrally secured to the door curtain portion disposed laterally of The valance portion 19 is adapted to be secured to the automobile canopy through the medium of the eyelet 21 and the portion 20 through the medium of the pair of eyelets 22. Also, lower securing means for the curtain portion disposed laterally of the doorwheading are indicated by the ordinal 23. 1

Referring to the form of curtain shown in Figure 7, the same includes a rigid Q-I g hQ g f ame, there being formed integral with the upper and lower tension members 4: and 7 a third intermediate tension. member 525. In this form. of curtain,

the element 9 is formed with a long slot 26 along which the pivot 2% travels when the door 15 is opened or shut, as hereinafter fully explained. t Referring-to the collapsible type of door curtain illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, it is evident that when the automobile door 15 is opened, the bottom of the curtain can be shifted to the right, Figure 6, and also the 1 distance between the bottom and top edges shortened, the pliability of the fabric 1 and pivotal connection between the elements 9 and 17 allowing this accomodation, as shown inv Figure 6.. Often automobile construction introduces conditions which malrethis accommodation very necessary. For instance, when the top of the automobile, overhangs the body. and the curtain is necessarily inclined outwardly toward the top, the portion of the curtain inthe vicinity of the fabric hinge. 6 will interfere with the canopy, when the dooris opened,unl ess the whole curtain mamas rigid frame, illustrated in Figure 7, it is evident that the distance between the top and bottom edges of the curtain cannot be shortened, so that the necessary accommodation is provided by means of the shifting of the pivot 24L in the slot 26, as illustrated.

The construction of curtain which I have hereinbefore described, shown in the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 to 6, and herein after claimed, provides in addition to the accommodation afforded, when the door 15 is opened or shut,a very eflicient and simple device for relieving the tautness of the curtain and permitting it to be collapsed and rolled or folded for storage. It is evidently necessary only to provide an opening'in one end of the short rod section 8 in which the supporting rod 12 may be telescopically accommodated the relative pivotal movement of the sections 9 and 17, in combination with the pivotal movement permitted by the connection of thesection 8 to the tension member l, allowing this telescopical engagement and disengagement to be readily and easily effected, after the curtain has been rentioved from the door 15. The several elements of the stretching member can then be folded down smoothly with the respective members -land 7 and the fabric and frame stored in any desired folded or rolled condition.

What I claim is: I

.1. A vehicle side curtain comprising, suit able fabric; a strengthening frame for said fabric consisting of rigid tension members, and vertically-disposed stretching member h airing two separable parts respectively pivoted to two of said tension members so as to be singularly movable relatively to said fabric, one of said parts comprising relatively pivoted upper and lower sections; and supporting means for the curtain secured to the upper of said relatively pivoted sections.

2. A vehicle side curtain comprising, suitable fabric; and a strengthening frame for saidfabric consisting of rigid tension members, and a stretching member pivoted to two of said tension members, having separable interlocking telescoping members, and an extended arm adapted to support said fabric and frame, said stretching member comprising other connected but relatively movable parts. l

3. A vehicle side curtain comprising, suitablefabric; a strengthening framefor said fabricconsisting of a pair of oppositely disposed horizontally arranged rigid tension members, a vertically disposed stretching member having two separable parts, said parts being pivoted to said rigid members respectively, the lower of said parts comprising relatively pivoted upper and lower sections; and supporting means. for Said fabric and frame rigidly secured to the upper sect-ion of said relatively pivoted sections.

4. A vehicle side curtain comprising, suitable fabric; a strengthening frame for said fabric consisting of a pair of oppositely disposed horizontally arranged rigid tension members; two end parts of a vertically disposed stretching member respectively pivoted to said tension members; and a third intermediate part of said stretching member pivoted to one of said end parts, separably engaging the other end part, and formed with supporting means for said fabric and frame.

5. A vehicle side curtain comprising, suitable fabric; a pair of oppositely disposed horizontally arranged rigid tension members incorporated in said fabric; two members pivoted respectively to said tension members; a member disposed intermediately of said last-mentioned two members pivoted to one the same and separably engaging the other, telescoping members for effecting the separation and engagement; means for limiting the pivotal movement of said intermediate member to one direction only; and supporting means for the curtain integrally secured to said intermediate member.

6. A vehicle side curtain comprising. suitable fabric; strengthening means for said fabric consisting of rigid tension members respectively; two sections of. a stretching member pivoted to two of said tension members; and a third section said member connected at one end to one of said aforesaid two sections but relatively movable thereof and separably engaging at the other end the other of said aforesaid two sections and formed with integrally connected means for supporting the curtain.

7. A vehicle side curtain comprising, suitable fabric; a strengthening frame for said fabric consisting of rigid tension members, and a vertically-disposed stretching member having two separable parts respectively pivoted to two of said tension members so as to be angularly movable relatively to said fabric, one of said parts comprising relatively movable upper and lower sections; and supporting means for the curtain secured to the upper of said relatively movable sections.

8. A vehicle side curtain comprising, suitable fabric; strengthening means for said fabric consisting of rigid tension members; two sections of a stretching member pivoted to two of said tension members; a member disposed intermediately of said aforesaid two sections, connected to but relatively movable to one of the same and sepa-rably engaging the other; means for limiting the pivotal movement of said intermediate member to one direction only; and supporting means for the curtain.

9. A vehicle side curtain comprising, suitable fabric; a strengthening frame for said fabric consisting of rigid tension members; two sections of a stretching member pivoted to said tension members; a member disposed intermediately of said aforesaid tWo sections; pivoted to one of the same and separably engaging the other; telescoping members for eflecting the separation and engagement; means for limiting the pivotal movement of said intermediate member to one direction only; and supporting means for the curtain.

Signed by me, this 23rd day of December, 1919.

GEORGE E. BISHOP. 

